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PEOPLE & ARTS Wednesday 12 december 2018

Brian Tyree Henry: ‘I feel everything’

By JAKE COYLE them,” Henry says during years could have imagined care — to see that people not lost on Henry.
Associated Press a recent interview. “These something so fantastic hap- are human, that no one is “Alfred, this season, I had
NEW YORK (AP) — When characters need a voice pening in my career. But I impervious to pain, that a time. I was like: This prom
Brian Tyree Henry filmed his and I don’t want to be a need to let ‘em go, these pain hurts, that it takes time date sucks right now. But
scenes in “If Beale Street I had to confront it,” says
Could Talk,” he wept. When Henry. “It is imitating my
he saw the finished film, he life, in a way. That’s why I’m
wept again. glad that Alfred found me.”
In Barry Jenkin’s lyrical ad- “Atlanta,” particularly in
aptation of James Bald- episodes like “Barbershop”
win’s celebrated novel, and “Woods” (which was a
Henry plays Daniel Carty, tribute for Henry to his de-
the just-out-of-jail friend of ceased mother), has given
Fonny (Stephan James). the broadest platform for
When Fonny and Tish (KiKi his talent. But films like “If
Layne) run into Daniel on Beale Street Could Talk”
the street, they retreat to have showed how much
Fonny and Tisch’s apart- Henry can do with just a
ment to catch up. The in- handful of scenes. His pres-
timate conversation aches ence instantly adds depth
with the pain of incarcera- and gravity.
tion: Daniel’s past, Fonny’s “He came onto set, may-
future. It’s a devastating be he was there for a day
but beautiful crescendo: in a half,” marvels James.
two vulnerable black men, “He was already a huge
contemplating a world pit- Baldwin fan, but what he
ted against them. was able to bring to that
“I was sobbing. I was like: moment ... You talk about
Why am I crying at myself? black love; that’s another
Is that weird that I’m crying form of it. Black love be-
at myself?” says Henry. “It tween brothers. That broth-
really, really, really sat with erly bond where we’re shar-
me. That could be me talk- ing our deepest, most inti-
ing to my friend, me talking mate fears, the things that
to my nephews, me talking have broken us, how do
to my brothers.” we maintain our strength
It’s no surprise that one of through these moments.”
the most moving and pro- Jenkins has said those
found scenes of the year scenes solidified the whole
happens to be one with project. For Henry, they
Henry in it. On stage and capture the duality of life
screen, in big parts and as a black man.
small, the 36-year-old ac- In this Nov. 15, 2018 photo, Brian Tyree Henry poses for a portrait in New York to promote his latest “There’s always a constant
tor’s soulful sensitivity and film, “If Beale Street Could Talk.” audition process, I call it, of
vast range has been on dis- Associated Press having to prove to people
play with remarkable regu- that you belong where you
larity. person to lie on them. It’s guys.” “That’s been kind for things to heal,” says are,” says Henry, burly and
There is, of course, his as- sounding all deep but it’s of a problem as of late,” Henry. “I spent most of my broad-shouldered, remem-
piring, oft-irritated rapper true. I have a special con- Henry sighs. “I tend to wear life constantly trying to hold bering when Yale students
Alfred Miles, aka Paper Boi, nection to every single them as badges of honor, on to the things that mat- would assume he wasn’t a
on “Atlanta”: the stony, character that I’ve been which they are.” tered.” classmate. “I’ve been very
eye-rolling face to the se- blessed to touch and I just Henry grew up the baby in His Broadway debut came fortunate to come to this
ries’ surrounding absurdity. want to make sure that I a Fayetteville, North Caro- in the original cast in “The point in my life where I’m
Its second season earned don’t lie on their journey, lina, family; his sisters were Book of Mormon,” but done doing that.”
Henry his second Emmy that I don’t lie on who they already adults. His parents it’s been “Atlanta” that Henry lives in Harlem, just
nomination in two years. are, that I don’t lie on their divorced when he was catapulted Henry’s ca- a few blocks from where
(His first was for a guest hearts.” young and after graduat- reer. Along with lending “Beale Street” was filmed.
appearance on “This Is Henry has a deep reservoir ing sixth grade, he was sent his voice to the upcom- It’s almost as if his char-
Us.”) The Broadway reviv- of emotion that never feels to live his father, then in his ing “Spider-Man: Into the acters are encroaching,
al of Kenneth Lonergan’s very far from the surface, 70s, in Washington D.C. Af- Spider-Verse,” he’s already ever closer, on the actor,
“Lobby Hero,” in which he and he speaks volubly, ter attending Morehouse shot four films due out next despite his best efforts to
played a conflicted securi- sometimes nearing tears, College in Atlanta, he got year (including an action leave them at the door. But
ty guard, won Henry his first about the fictional lives his master’s from the Yale comedy alongside Melissa he’s learning to live with his
Tony nod. And a few weeks that people his brain. Henry School of Drama. Acting, McCarthy). At the mo- hypersensitivity.
before “Beale Street” hits simply feels a lot — maybe he says, saved his life be- ment, he’s shooting the “I wouldn’t change that
theaters, Henry made an too much so. cause it allowed him to ex- Brooklyn-set indie “The Out- because it means I’m pres-
equally potent, if far more “I feel everything,” he press what he observed. side Story.” ent. It means that I see
menacing impression as grants with a knowing grin. “Most of my life, at a very Henry’s ascendance has you,” says Henry. “But then
a politician in Steve Mc- “These past two years have young age, I got to see partly paralleled Alfred’s at the same time I need to
Queen’s “Widows.” been a topsy-turvy thing what it was like to be sur- more humbling, fitful rise on figure out how to flip it so I
“I just don’t want to lie on for me. I never in a million rounded by the lack of “Atlanta” — a comparison see myself too.”q